You know what they say about opinions, they're like ***holes...everybody has one. Few things other than politics and religion get people riled up like golf course ranking lists do. Everyone has a style of course they prefer, be it links or parkland or heathland, and everyone has 'pet favourites' that they feel are being overlooked by those 'stupid raters'. Being raters for a few publications ourselves, TJ and I know how difficult it can be to decide which courses belong on a particular list and which courses we'd like to see recede from public consciousness.
The latest biannual World Top 100 Courses from Golf Magazine was recently released and we figured we'd give our 2 cents on the list. Golf Magazine's rankings are generally considered the gold standard, mostly due to the relatively small panel (~100) which is very well travelled and a group that considers the merits of a course very carefully. Here are a few thoughts on the list from Golf Away Tours' point of view.
-How great is Australia and New Zealand as a golf destination? 9 courses in the top 100...and they're all ACCESSIBLE. It's a shame more North American clubs don't open their doors to visitors. Everyone deserves to see great golf architecture. The diversity of courses down under is incredible, from the sandbelt courses near Melbourne, to the links courses at Barnbougle, to the spectacular cliff-top courses at Cape Kidnappers and Kauri Cliffs. Just think, with a trip to Melbourne and a quick jaunt to Tasmania you could play 5 of the world's top courses (and many other superb tracks).
-Links golf still rules, and always will. The list is littered from top to bottom with places at the roots of the game. Yes, the usual suspects for links golf are Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales, but it's pretty cool to see links courses from the USA, Australia, and yes, Canada crack the list. I have not been out to see Cabot Links in Cape Breton but by all indications it is well deserving of its place on the list.
-Happy that St. George's in Toronto moved up a few spots on the list. I think it's one of the best parkland courses in the world, with incredible bunkering. I would place it ahead of some of America's parkland courses that are ranked higher, including this week's host of the PGA Championship, Oak Hill.
-Disappointed to see Highlands Links fall off the list. Canadian golf architect, Ian Andrew, has been working to restore the Stanley Thompson features and improve conditions through tree removal, but the fact remains that the course is generally in sub-standard condition. It's too bad Mike Keiser, the developer of Bandon Dunes and Cabot Links (along with Canadian golf entrepreneur and all around good guy, Ben Cowan Dewar), has expressed little interest in taking Highlands Links over. The course deserves better.
-Continuing with the Canadian theme, other courses that could merit recognition include Hamilton, The National, Toronto GC, Capilano, Banff, Jasper, and Shaughnessy.
My final tally is 29 of the top 100 played. Can't wait to add a few notches to the belt!
The top 100 courses are definitely great but I prefer golf courses with a much simpler design. It is pretty hard to play if the course is for professionals. I need a golf vacation package to help me find a suitable place to stay and play.
ReplyDelete